Thursday 17 November 2011

Feedback

Where to start? 
Sangeet was a fantastic trainer who tried to pack as much information into the three day course as she possibly could. I have taken away so many ideas and suggestions that I hope to be able to introduce, not just in my place of work but also to my way of working.
It's essential that the library service keeps up with developments in technology and the changing needs and expectations of their users - this course has provided a great introduction to these and more importantly pointed us in the right direction, or 'what to do next?' I would suggest that this course and it's content be identified by libraries in Wales as a training need not just an optional training opportunity, it's too important to ignore!
The break between days two and three was a good thing, and it would be really useful if we could have regular 'catch up' sessions with Sangeet . Some form of ongoing online support would also be much appreciated.

Swansea Libraries Project

Our project was to create a wiki or mini-website for Swansea Libraries staff, to include communication tools as well as useful resources for staff, to help them plan events and displays in their libraries. Staff will need to login to view the pages so they will not be accessible to the public. We used Google Sites to create the pages, adapting an existing template to reflect the branding style and colours of our library service.

The pages include;

Bulletin

The Home page, a summary of the rest of the site, a like button for our Facebook page and a gadget displaying the Swansea Libraries Twitter Feed

A Google document for library staff to amend to include their library event listings, this will then be submitted to the local ‘What’s On’ magazine

A bulletin board to help keep staff informed about new Service information, they will be notified automatically by email when new information is posted, but can easily refer back to it here

Calendar
 A Google calendar showing events, festivals and national campaigns that may be useful for staff, each event includes basic information and a relevant weblink

The Swansea Libraries public blog, embedded as an RSS feed



And finally an ever increasing list of links to useful websites, subdivided by category

We discussed the pages we had created with some of the senior managers of our Library Service and they helped us to see other ways in which we could develop the site in the future and encourage staff to use it

We have started with these few pages but we would like to develop them further and create more, to provide a useful and extensive resource for all Swansea Libraries staff.

Feedback from Torfaen Libraries

I have enjoyed the Wisekids Web 2.0 training very much. It has been informative and interesting throughout the 3 days. In fact, it has been amongst the best training I have had since working for the library service.

I can see the relevance of social networking for libraries and believe that a new generation of library user will be easier to contact on the www than by another means. We offer many resources online now including ebooks and rather than this excluding traditional customers I believe the service has expanded to encompass people who might not otherwise be using our facilities.

I had already set up a Facebook and Twitter page for our library service before the course but had never used a blog. I learnt how to use social networking to its best advantage and the found tips and tricks, including Hootsuite, very helpful. I now use Hootsuite to manage my Twitter accounts from one page and I am able to instantly see when someone has messaged me so I can respond quickly.
I enjoyed contributing to this blog page and felt quite confident when setting up our blog for Torfaen Libraries. I have embedded a Twitter feed and Facebook link to the page and will continue to add features and links as I discover more about Blogger.

I found the internet safety session very useful. I have decided to investigate running some 'Cyber Savvy' courses for young people. I think that children and teens have been forgotten about to an extent. We assume they know how to do everything, but in fact their knowledge of maintaining a 'positive presence' on the internet and protecting their information, is shockingly limited.

It would be great to have a follow up session in the future and to be able to contact Sangeet with questions as and when they arise.

Thanks very much Sangeet.
Best wishes,
Rosie

Feedback

I have thoroughly enjoyed this course. The content and the delivery were just right, we all had to work hard. I found some part of the practical content difficult because it is not something I  do on a regular basis, however it was well worth the effort, and has given me an understanding of the skills staff will need to develop the Web 2 content we are so keen to provide for and with users. The course was very timely, as the county council is looking at a new  website system and the Senior Leadership team are aware that we need to change our online provision to meet the needs of our customers. Previously control was the most important consideration when it came to web content but this will now need to change. The course has given me the knowledge needed to plan the Web2 provision and with the knowledge the confidence to be able to argue the case with corporate ICT  if I encounter problems regarding the route we want to take. Previously we knew we should have a Facebook page and a twitter feed but now I know why and how to persuade others of the benefits.
It was a pity that more North Wales library staff attended, no matter how busy we all are this would have been 3 days well spent. I would really like there to be a follow up course in 3 months time, as I am sure that I will need further advice and support as we roll the new services out.

Wednesday 16 November 2011

Day three ideas


Here's the mind map I created during the final afternoon of the course. After I write up my notes, I hope to expand on these points to enable the library to inform members about effective and responsible use of Internet resources.

Vale of Glamorgan Libraries Project update - Links to my blog'n'tweets

I have added a few more bits to my Libraries Fortnight blog and still intend to carry on Tweeting when there's any news from the libraries - even started gathering followers now!

Blog: http://voglib.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @voglibraries

Ongoing Support

Following the course, I am not sure what further support might be helpful. A one-day follow-up could be good, but only once I have had chance to use and explore what we have learnt.

Alyn

Cybersavy Map for Denbighshire Library Service

First thoughts regarding the provision of informal training regarding Information Security for users of the library public access computers and mobile gadgets of all types including phones. Aiming to raise awareness of the imporatnce of protecting our Digital Identity

Feedback about 3 day course from Mair Jones

I had reservations about coming on this course, organised by Cymal as I am not very computer literate and have never received any formal training.

I am however a keen user of facebook and have become aware that the social media network is now key to any Organisation to make itself known to the wider world.  Although i did struggle through the tasks, I am even more convinced following the Course that the Museum needs to have the social media as a core part of its PR Strategy.

I have absorbed a great deal of information that Sangeet has in abundance. She is clearly up to date on all the developments in this fast moving field. I found there to be an overload of information at times particularly as it is such a new field to me. It would have been helpful to have received some written notes.

Thank you for convincing me Sangeet that a social media strategy is the way forward for the Museum.
I now need time to familiarise myself with the actual process of writing blogs etc and to read all the helpful links that are available on the WiseKids website.

As regards support in the immediate future. I will be co working with Alyn Ashworth on presenting ideas from the Course to the Museum Team. He will hopefully be able to support me on the more technical side of this. It might be helpful to be able to attend a refresher course or a further one day course in about 12 months time, to  further develop my skills/abilities in this field.

Thoughts on the 3-day programme

Overall, the course has been very interesting and useful. I have picked up a lot of information and background about recent developments on the Web, and some insights into possible applications for the Wireless in Wales Museum.

Sangeet clearly has an excellent grasp of her subjects, and her presentation has been clear and straight-forward, and the selection of topics has been relevant and interesting. She has been able to respond to questions and demonstrate relevant examples.

During the course I and my colleague Mair have been able to develop ideas and strategies for the ongoing progress of the Museum's web presence, and a report which we are currently producing for the Museum's managing committee will benefit widely from our experience here.

If I may make one word of criticism, it is the somewhat 20-century mode of presentation - writing on a flip chart. A better alternative would have been an on-going document on the intelligent whiteboard, which could than have been saved and emailed to attendees as a useful resource. Although I do appreciate the wide range of resources available on the Wise Kids site, I would also, personally, have appreciated some printed notes, if only outlining the steps to be taken for the various exercises, making it much more straight-forward to practice at home or at work later.

In summary - an excellent course which I have enjoyed and found challenging.

Alyn

Feedback from Jeff Harrison

The three days have been a real eye opener for me.  The ideas and the possibilities are much greater than I thought and the fact it is available free means we can bring a much better service to our uses as well as marketing the service more widely and effectively.  We have already started working on Facebook pages for the Youth Service and the Library Service, with Flickr being used for the Arts Service pages.  A demonstration is planned for lead officers showing the potential of Web2 and I will be suggesting the use of screencasts and linking in twitter with the facebook pages and the use of video virtual tours posted on Youtube.  I would not have been aware that most of this was possible but for this course.

I certainly think that refreshers would be useful and perhaps regular updates about new developments that we could utilise.  Perhaps Cymal could fund generic information videos and such like for publicity or assist by funding content design/production courses.

Are we CyberSavvy in Flintshire?

Just a brief outline of some of the ways I would like to apply the internet safety guidelines given to us on day three of the WiseKids Cymal 2011 course.

MairJones Project



Gwefr heb Wifrau / Wireless in Wales Museum is beginning to consider the best ways of publicising it's existence as a Learning Centre for the community of Denbigh and nationally in Wales. This mindmap begins to map out the process of advising the Museum Team/Commitee as to the benefits of adopting a social media strategy as well as or instead of the traditional website it currently has.

Alyn's Project Web Interface Functional Diagram



The Wireless in Wales Museum is planning to update its website to include a blog and, possibly, a private or members-only section. This diagram is an initial attempt to show the flow of information into, out of, and through the resulting web presence.

Mind Map - Cybersavvy

Here are a few thoughts on co-ordinating on-line safety between services and the websites.

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Denbighshire Libraries - It's not what I planned but...

Well, here is my effort, I thought I'd cobble together something to show the powers that be what is possible with web 2, however time constraints have not allowed me to make the video of the almost legendary Rusty Bear joining the library... that and the fact that someone has borrowed the camera... and my wonderful screen cast has been broufght to a grinding halt thanks to the system playing silly beggars and the microphone not working, so when I had done it, it was silent anyway and now I can neither delete or publish it!

All of this notwithstanding, here is a link to my humble contribution. Hope it all makes sense.

Pat's Feedback

My thoughts on the 3 day training programme, devised and delivered by Sangeet, are that it’s probably the most beneficial, practical course I’ve ever attended. One of the most enjoyable too!

I’ve learned new skills, but I’ve actually applied them during the programme itself. This has made all the difference. In my experience, what usually happens after attending training is that copious notes, taken on the day, never really get translated into practical work. The ‘day job’ and time constraints always take precedence. Not this time though.

After day 2 I left bursting with knowledge (on the background & development of Web 2.0) and ideas of how I would use the new tools we’d been let loose on (some of which I’d never even heard of before, let alone used) such as Bubbl.us, Muvee Reveal, Tweet Deck and various widgets (which bloggers call gadgets).

I now know about the importance of using labels to find your stuff and how to successfully embed. I’ve seen many (previously unknown to me) useful websites such as ted.com and videojug and feel the need to get my hands on a Flip video camera. I can’t wait for my mobile phone contract to end - so that I can get a Smartphone & download useful apps such as audio-boo. I could go on . . . (but I won’t).

 A key ingredient in the success of this programme, I think, was to split it up into two parts; with ‘homework’ to complete during the intervening weeks. We had space (with a deadline at the end of it) to show off our newly acquired skills and it was so inspiring to see what the rest of the participants had achieved. We are all using what we learned right now to enhance client support. Amazing.

 I would certainly welcome continued support from Sangeet. She took about 10 minutes, at the end of our last session, to show me how to expertly tweak my project into something much better. She takes a real interest and if left to my own devices, I would probably have taken hours to achieve the same result (or given up trying).

Following the end of the course, we have been given access to numerous, really helpful, resources related to Digital Security. This is a subject that should concern us all and is something I will be raising with students during future LRC inductions.

I would like to keep in touch with WISEKIDS to help me stay on top of Web 2.0 developments; if Cymal are able to provide follow up support sessions, perhaps on an annual basis, I would definitely sign up for them. Brillo!

Day 3 Feedback

I have learnt so much from this 3 day course, it has been a hands on course which has left me with some practical skills that I am already using in my working role and personal life. It was very helpful having people from different types of libraries and with varying levels of knowledge and skill in social media technology on the course. I felt inspired after day one of the course and that hasn't left me. There will be challenges taking web2.0 technologies forward in our service but I feel more able to advocate their value for the services we deliver.

It will be useful to continue to have access to this blog, we will have one place to come and share our experiences and the knowledge and skills which will hopefully continue to grow. Potentially this could become a place to record some best practice in the use of web2.o technology in Welsh libraries and to showcase any exemplar projects.

Many thanks to Sangeet and to everyone on the course for helping me take my first steps in using web2.0 technologies.

Melanie

Monday 14 November 2011

Day 3 Feedback from Anna

I really enjoyed the 3 day programme. I feel I have picked up quite a lot of new and useful knowledge and hope to put this to good use. I am excited about using these skills to interact with our users and as a new form of communication with other staff.
Finding out what other libraries/librarians are doing has also been really interesting.

Whilst I don't think any further support is completely necessary it would be nice to have a follow up day in the future as technologies change and it's hard to keep up during the working week!
I think this blog is a great resource that I can share with my collegues to help them get a wider idea of what libraries get up to online.

It has been a great experience, thanks to everyone.

Feedback

Thoughts on the 3-day programme:
  • Not long enough!
  • So much to take in, but widened my mind to greater possibilities
  • Given me the tools and the enthusiasm to take it back and find ways of using Social Networking to promote libraries to the public
  • As above, to share with professional colleagues 
  • Session on digital safety and awareness very useful - I hope we can start running tasters on this in the near future
What, if any, support would I like?
  • I would VERY much like a refresher session in a few months (no more than a year!)
  • Permanent access to the WiseKids web site and useful information lists
  • Thank you Sangeet for saying we can contact you if necessary!
  • Support from employers/council in order to maintain access to Web2.0 technology!

Day 3 Feedback

Thaught on three day feedback....

When we first got started on the course material, I really thaught that we at the National Library of Wales were too far ahead using web2.0. I found people asking questions and matters were arising that we had already developed for example, some of the librarians on the course did not have atwitter account until recently, were we have been tweeting for the past two years.... however, I learnt alot during the three days and deffinetly found it very useful back at the office. There were aspects that we had not developed fully, like linking our different social media accounts to our Facebook. On a personal level, i learnt how to set up a blog page, RSS feed embedding videos and a twitter feed to it. In work, the IT office did this on my behalf....

Support wise, I'm not sure.Again, as we are developed our web2.0 services and i have good IT support at work, different to other libraries i hear i don't think i will be requring much support. I will look forwad to following the blog to see everyone elses progress in the near future.

Sian

Haley's Feeback

I considered the three day WISE KIDS course to be very useful in the sense that it helped me build on my foundational knowledge covering information all areas of social media, internet savviness, etc.  I loved the hands-on approach! It was interactive and engaging. 

In terms of future support, I'd love to be able to contact Sangeet by email with any questions.  I'd like to be able to access the blog for future posts by other attendees of the workshop in order to keep abreast of any ideas that I might be able to apply in my own library. 

Great course!

Swansea Libraries Cyber Savvy?

Some ideas that we could use at Swansea Libraries to promote online safety and awareness of how to create a positive online presence to both staff and customers

Stay safe and be CyberSavvy at Cardiff Met


More than half our students are school leavers, and are officially adults.  That is not to say that they don't need being made aware of how their behaviour online may affect their reputation and safety.

Although the welfare of students is mainly the responsibility of Student Services, the library can enlighten students through information literacy sessions, covering cybersavvy topics closely connected to successful study, i.e. critical evaluation and thinking skills - or sorting out the cyber good, bad and ugly.

For example, using images - most students don't know that downloading images without copyright permission is illegal.  This can be tied in with some interesting examples, perhaps showing what happens when an image is copied without the owners consent, etc. 

As students are adults, the last thing they need is a lecture.  It has to be done subtly.... We need to find out what other departments are doing to educate students on u and work closely with them to enhance this.

Cyber Savvy MindMap - ideas around promoting digital safety skills


This is a 'quick and dirty' mindmap of ways in which I might promote digital safety skills with students - back at the ranch . . . .

CyberSavvy - family awareness session


Would really like to discuss with colleagues the idea of a family cyber savvy session in the libraries, maybe adult learners week?

CyberSavvy mindmap AndyG

Haley's Digital CyberSavvy Map

Hi everyone, here's my mindmap outlining potential problems with digital safety and solutions to create awareness.  -Haley Arnold

Internet Safety Reminder for NLW Staff.

Although the IT dept deal with all aspects of Internet safety at the National Library of Wales, controlling staff and users PC. I have created this bubbl.us document to remind staff in the marketing office about the basics in Internet safety when using social media....

It is important to use PPPAS to remind ourselves... profile information, privacy settings, passwords, auto logons, stranger danger PPPAS!

Torfaen's Cyber Savvy Mindmap


Anna's digital awareness mind map

Here is my second go at a mindmap (I've got more colours this time!).
These are some ideas as to how Cardiff Libraries could promote digital safety/skills/awareness.


Digital Safety/Skills/Awareness Mindmap


Sunday 13 November 2011

Cardiff Children's library update

Hi everyone.

Since the last training days I've used my new skills to produce a presentation for my colleagues showing how to add a blog post - we are in the process of setting up a blog for our children's and teen reading groups.
I was planning to create a screencast but our staff PCs lack sound so decided to create a powerpoint presentation as I was sure this could be viewed by everyone!

I've uploaded it to google documents so that I could embed it here (it is very simple but I hope it does the job).


I've also begun setting up a google site for some of our recommendations for books/websites. I found this really quick to use, it's getting the content up to date that is taking the longest time but I think it will make our recommendations more relevant than the paper forms they are currently in.

The skills and information from this Wise Kids training will continue to be put to use at work, improving the service for our users (hopefully!). Also personally I have really enjoyed learning about how to use these great web 2.0 technologies.

Looking forward to tomorrow.

Care Sciences LRC Blog all set up and ready to go . . .

The start of term madness finally tailored off last week with the last of our inductions and workshops - and I had a chance to work on our new blog. Rob - my job share colleague - has been persuaded (!) that a joint blog would be a good idea and has given me his first post. . . . The blog is looking good, if rather short on content, but I'm sure this will change over the coming months. . . .

I'm looking forward to our catch-up Wise Kids workshop on Monday. Have a few questions to ask Sangeet & new skills to learn . . . http://caresciencelibs.blogspot.com/

Update from Torfaen Libraries

Hi,
I have worked on my project and have put together the following:
I have had permission to set up a blog for Torfaen Library Service. It will be a weekly blog and contain info, photos links etc about whatever we have been up to.
I have added the Twitter feed from @torfaenlibrary and the Facebook link to our Facebook page. We previously had 3 separate pages for our libraries on Fb but it seems to work better now I have merged them.
I have also set up a discussion page on Facebook for our IT drop-in customers.
Looking forward to our final day of Wisekids training on Monday.
Torfaen Libraries' Blog
Rosie